Wareham School Committee Adopts PROTECT Act Policy
Wareham School Committee adopted a new PROTECT Act policy and split 3-2 on a related state resolution.
School Committee · Meeting of October 15, 2026
Wareham School Committee adopted a new PROTECT Act policy and split 3-2 on a related state resolution. The committee voted 4-1 Thursday to approve policy and procedures governing staff response if federal immigration agents attempt to enter school buildings, after Superintendent Dr. Amy Hartley-Matteson attended an October 9 DESE webinar on the law.
Members also accepted a $1,000 gift from Cape Cod 5 for the high school's Credit for Life Fair and voted 5-0 to push the fiscal 2028 budget calendar back about a month, moving final adoption to January 21. On a related Massachusetts Association of School Committees "Safe Zone" resolution, the panel split 3-2, with member Roger T. Bonin calling parts of the measure "more philosophical, almost political than legal," while Apryl Rossi cited New Bedford families "in fear for their life because of their accent." The committee tabled a gender-identity nondiscrimination policy to October 29 pending legal review.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,959 words
Source: the School Committee meeting of October 15, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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